ACT from bottom upJoAnne Dahl Niklas Törneke

ACBS World congress X Washington 2012

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Theoretical assumptions

Radical behaviorism/functional contextualism

Principles of change: operant and respondent learning

Respondent

Unconditioned stimulus (US) Unconditioned response (UR)

stimulusConditioned

(CS) Conditioned response (CR)

Operant

Antecedent Behavior Consequence

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An important detail: Private events/subtle

behaviorPrivate events as behavior

What is first clear and evident becomes subtle or “weak”

Subtle behavior and it’s effect on behavior more generally

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Operant behaviorFlexibility and the risk of rigidity

Törneke8ANTECEDENT

CONSEQUENCE

“Do you have the keys?”

Putting the hand in left pocket

Finds the keys

“Fuck off!”

Left alone

Turns silent, looks down

A gaze of interestCritized

The critique ends

Aggressive outburst

Operant behavior

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ANTECEDENT

CONSEQUENCE

Different types of consequences:

Those that increase the probability of a certain behavior: reinforcing

Those that decrease the probability of a certain behavior: punishing

All behavior that persists is reinforced in one way or another

A primary reinforcer (punisher) and a learned reinforcer (punisher)

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Relational framing

Increased flexibility – and the risk of more rigidity

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Interacting with relations between stimuli

Non–arbitrary relations

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Relating controlled by arbitrary contextual cues

& =@

# is the same as 10000 dollars# is the same as a hard punch on the nose

> #

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Contextual change that affects behavior

MORE THANSome contextual factors influence our way to relate stimuli andtherby stimulus function (the effect stimuli have on our behavior) changeThis is the key to understanding human language and cognition

Contingencies, operant and respondent Generalisation Relations based on physical characteristics of stimuli Humans learn to relate stimuli independently of the stimuli

related

LESS THAN

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Different relations

MORE THAN

LESS THAN IN FRONT OF

BEHIND BEFORE

AFTER

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An exercise

In what way is…

1. 1. behind1.

2. 2. longer than 2.

3. 3. before3.

4. 4. better than 4.

5. 5. inside5.

6. 6. same as 6.

7. 7. part of7.

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Relational framing and it’s effect on human behavior

Two main areas:

The ability to follow instructions (rule governed behavior)

The way we interact with our own behavior (self)

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Rigidity

Experiential avoidance: Following of self-instructions to control, extinguish or lessenprivate responses such as feelings, thoughts, memories and bodily sensations

Fusion: Not distinguishing, in the moment, “I” from subtle/private self–instructions (your own responses)

Now–later

If–so

More–less

Better–worse

Consequence

Antecedent…is the same as…

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RFT and it’s clinical implications (ACT)

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Flexibility

Rigidity

Experiential avoidance

FusionEffective action

Defusion

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What is defusion?

When we are fused with our own responses (feelings, thoughts, memories) these responses are in coordination with the responder (“I”). I am one with my thoughts and feelings, acting “in” or “on” them

Defusion is to relate to your own responses as “I–there–then”, as with a distance from you, a distance optimal for observation

Events framed “I–there–then” have different stimulus functions (effect your behavior differently) from events framed “I–here–now”

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What is effective action?

In experiential avoidance your own private responses (thoughts, feelings, memories) are in opposition to effective action. As if you can not move with these present

Frame problematic private events (your own responses) in coordination with effective action and you can move. Carry them with you and go!

Effective action for what? Values

Defusion and effective action go together, are part of the same movement: flexibility

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ACT as “therapy of self”

You and yourself, the trap of rigidity: Not distinguishing between yourself and your private responses (fusion) and… Setting your private responses in opposition to valued action (experiential avoidance)

You and yourself, back to flexibility: Act in relation to your private

responses so that you can observe them with a distance (defusion) and… Accept them as a part of action in the direction you want to go (effective action)

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Tools for therapy

Functional analysis is at the root of ACT

Metaphor

Experiential excercises

Functional analysis

What behavior should be analyzed? First and second scene.Which are the contextual factors (antecedents and consequences) influencing this behavior?

Analysis of both excesses (problematic behavior)and deficiences (alternative behavior)

Watch out for fusion and experiential avoidanceWork towards defusion and effective action